Carton feeding apparatus for article cartoning machines



y 0, 1954 G. c. CURRIE ET AL 2,683,959

CARTON FEEDING APPARATUS FOR ARTICLE CARTONING MACHINES Filed June 25,1951 8 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTORS, Glam 5e C. Came/E, 852M420 0. 04m, low:E MlK/NJ & MAUE/C' 610mm.

ATTORNEYS.

July 20, 1954 G. c. CURRIE ET AL 2,683,959

CARTON FEEDING APPARATUS FOR ARTICLE CARTONING MACHINES Filed June 25,1951 8 Sheets-Sheet 2 & MAUI/CE 600ml, INVENTORS.

BY v M ATTORNEYS- July 20, 1954 G. c. CURRIE ET AL 2,683,959

CARTON FEEDING APPARATUS FOR ARTICLE CARTONING MACHINES Filed June 5,1951 8 Sheets-Sheet 3 300 Gem 2 6. Cum 1'95 296 fiEk/V/MD Q .OAN5, 295100/5 5 lV/L AfNJ F j INVENTORS.

ATTORNEYS.

y 1954 G. c. CURRIE ET AL 2,683,959

CARTON FEEDING APPARATUS FOR ARTICLE CARTONING MACHINES Filed June 25,1951 8 Sheets-Sheet 4 BY M ATTORNEYS.

y 1954 G. c. CURRIE ET AL 2,683,959

CARTON FEEDING APPARATUS FOR ARTICLE CARTONING MACHINES Filed June 25,1951 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 270 W .l @i J 5 i I s U'JL L 270 Y a/ Q 32 25/ Gemm awn/e,

3 MAURICE 8. 0am; I NVENTORS.

BY g v m ATTORNEYS.

y 1954 G. c. CURRIE ET AL 2,683,959

CARTON FEEDING APPARATUS FOR ARTICLE CARTONING MACHINES Filed June 25,1951 8 Sheets-Sheet 6 /50 6201 52 6. (um/g 224, 1a? Mue/ufifluuv,INVENTORS.

BY {Mnw ATTORNEYS.

July 20, 1954 Filed June 25, 1951 8 Sheets-Sheet '7 62mm 6. Cum/1; 622mm2 0AM;- 1 00/5 f W Kl/vJ 6c MAW/vi 5. 0am

I N VE N TOR-5.

ATTORNEYS.

July 20, 1954 G. c. CURRIE ET AL 2,683,959

CARTON FEEDING APPARATUS FOR ARTICLE CARTONING MACHINES Filed June 25,1951 8 Sheets-Sheet 8 & Mme/c5 6 NM INVENTORS.

ATTORNEYS.

Patented July 20, 1954 CARTON FEEDING APPARATUS FOR ARTICLE CARTONINGMACHINES Grover C. Currie, Bernard D. Dans, Louis F. Wilkens, andMaurice B. Dunn, Charlotte, N. C.

assignors to Dacam Corporation,

Charlotte:

N. 0., a corporation of North Carolina Application June 25, 1951, SerialNo. 233,414

14 Claims. 1

This invention relates to machines for receiving bottled beverages,placing the same in a carton, sealing the carton and delivering thefilled carton from the machine, and more especially to an improvedapparatus for positively feeding the cartons into the machine so as tobe accurately positioned for receiving the bottled beverages relative toother moving parts of the machine regardless of the speed of themachine.

The improved apparatus for feeding the cartons into the machine isparticularly adapted for use with a machine of the type shown in theco-pending application of Grover C. Currie et al., Serial No. 788,fi02,filed November 28, 1947, and entitled Means for Placing Articles inCartons, now Patent No. 2,603,924.

The machine embodied in said co-pending application is of a type towhich filled bottles, cans or other containers are delivered from abottling machine or the like and the machine will then positionopen-bottomed cartons at a predetermined point and means are providedfor opening the sides of the carton apart from each other and then othermeans are provided for raising a group of bottles up into the carton.The cartons and bottles are then held in elevated position while theelevating means is moved away from the lower surface of the bottles.Then, the bottom flaps of the carton are moved to horizontal positionagainst the bottoms of the bottles, in which position they are securedand the carton filled with bottles is delivered onto an endless conveyorfor discharging the same from the machine.

Now, in the machine embodied in said co-pend- I ing application, thecartons have been stacked in a magazine from which the cartons weremoved, one at a time, to a position immediately .above the means foropening the sides of the carton apart from each other, after which thelastnamed carton was rotated from a, horizontal to a vertical positionand then permitted to move, by gravity, downwardly to a position betweensaid means for opening the sides of the carton apart from each other toreceive the group of bottles raised into the carton. However, the meansdescribed for positioning the cartons one at a time between the meansfor opening the sides of the cartons apart from each other hasnecessarily limited the speed at which the machine could be operated dueto the cartons usually being of a relatively light material and as aresult of which the speed at which the carton is moved downwardly, bygravity, could not be controlled. Consequently, in the event of thespeed of the machine being substantially increased, the carton would notbe properly positioned between the means for opening the sides of thecarton apart from each other in proper timed relation to the operationof the means for opening the sides of the carton apart from each other.

It is, therefore, an object of this invention to provide a positivemeans for feeding the cartons to the means for opening the sides of thecarton apart from each other and wherein said positive means operates inaccurately timed relation to the various other moving parts of themachine to thus insure that each successive carton is properlypositioned for reception of the bottles which are subsequently raisedthereinto.

More sp c fi a y, it is an object of this invention to provide anapparatus of the type de-v scribed comprising a hopper or magazinedisposed above and to one side of the vertical plane of the means foropening the sides of the carton apart from each other and said hopperbeing adapted to contain a stack of superposed car tons therein andhaving means for directing the lowermost of the cartons in the hopper,one at a time, onto a carton positioning plate or platform which ispivotally mounted on the machine.

There is also an oscillatable carton edge gripping or grasping devicewhich is disposed adjacent the edge of the platform remote from themagazine and which is in a normally open position as the carton is movedto the platform and means are provided to operate in timed relation tothe various other moving parts of the machine which will cause thegrasping or gripping device to clamp the corresponding edge of thecarton and to simultaneously rotate the carton about the axis of thegrasping device.

Moreover, at the time the carton is rotated, the platform is rotatedautomatically about its axis disposed to one side of the grasping deviceto thus permit the carton to be revolved from a.

horizontal to a vertical position. Upon the carton being revolved to avertical position, the grasping device is then moved downwardly by amechanical means and, upon moving downwardly to a predetermined positionadjacent the means for opening the sides of the carton apart from eachother, the grasping device then releases the carton and returns to itsoriginal position whereupon, said last-named means operates in themanner described in said Patent No. 2,603,924 to move the opposed sidesof the carton apart from. each other for the reception of the bottles orother articles raised thereinto.

Some of the objects of the invention having been stated, other objectswill appear as the description proceeds when taken in connection withthe accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a front elevation of thebottle cartoning machine showing the improved apparatus for positivelyfeeding the cartons to the means for opening the sides of the cartonapart from each other mounted thereon;

Figure 2 is a side elevation looking at the lefthand side of Figure 1with many of the parts being omitted and other parts being shown insection for purposes of clarity;

Figure 3 is an enlarged top plan view looking down at the top of Figure1 but omitting many of the parts which are disposed at the lower portionof the machine shown in Figure 1;

Figure 4 is an enlarged detail view of the central left-hand portion ofFigure 5 taken substantially along the line 44 in Figure 1;

Figure 5 is an enlarged vertical sectional view taken substantiallyalong the line 5-5 in Figure 1 with many of the parts being shownschematically and showing the grasping device in an intermediateposition;

Figure 6 is a fragmentary elevation of the lower actuating means for thecarton edge grasping device and is taken substantially along the line6-6 in Figure 4;

Figure '7 is an enlarged elevation of the grasping device shown in theupper left-hand portion of Figure 5 but showing the grasping device inan elevated position;

Figure 8 is a top plan view with parts in section taken substantiallyalong the line 88 in Figure '7;

Figure 9 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view with partsbroken away taken substantially along the line 98 in Figure 1 andshowing a part of the means for opening and closing the jaws of thegrasping device which is instrumental in moving the cartons downwardlyto a position between the device for moving the sides of the cartonapart from each other;

Figure 10 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view takensubstantially along the line Iii--19 in Figure 3;

Figure 11 is an isometric view looking substantially in the direction ofthe arrow I l in Figure 5 and showing the manner in which the hopper forthe cartons is constructed;

Figure 12 is an isometric view of the grasping device showing the topthereof and the righthand end thereof as shown in Figure 8.

Inasmuch as those parts of the machine other than the improved apparatusfor positively feeding the cartons to a predetermined position aresubstantially the same as those described in said Patent No. 2,603,924,only those parts of the machine which are particularly pertinent to thepresent invention will be described in detail.

Referring more specifically to the drawings, the numeral Hi broadlydesignates the frame of the machine which includes left-hand andrighthand vertically disposed side frame members H and I2, respectively,which are shown as being of cast construction.

The front and rear portions of the upper ends of the side frame membersI! and I? are bridged by respective horizontally disposed frame membersl3 and It, the lower front portions thereof being bridged by ahorizontally disposed frame member 15 There are also disposed betweenthe side frame members I I and [2, intermediate transverse frame membersl5, ll, 18 and [9, the frame members I5 to I51, inclusive, beingsubstantially the same as those shown in said patent and being suitablysecured to the side frame members H and [2 at opposed ends thereof.

It will be observed in Figures 1 and 2 that the side frame members H and12 are suitably secured to the upper surface of a base member 25. Thesesicle frame members have Shearing blocks 26 suitably secured to thefront surfaces thereof (Figure 1) in which a driven cam shaft 21 is'rotatably mounted, this cam shaft 2'! may be driven in the manner shownin said patent.

In order to avoid confusion, many of the cams are omitted from the camshaft 21' and only those which are pertinent to the present inventionare shown mounted on the cam shaft 21. However, it is to be understoodthat the cams shown in said patent mounted on the cam shaft may also beincluded on the cam shaft 21 shown in Figures 1, 2 .and 5.

As is clearly described in said patent, the cartoning machine includes.an endless conveyor designated generally at C onto which filledbottles, cyiindrioally-shaped cans or other articles are delivered froma bottling or canning machine or the like. The endless conveyor C ismounted on a pair of sprocket wheels 30 which are fixedly mounted on atransverse shaft .3] rotatably mounted in bearing blocks or stands 32which project outwardly and are suitably secured, as by screws 33, tothe transverse frame member l5 (Figures 1 and 5) This shaft 3| may bedriven in the mamier shown in said patent.

The filled bottles, cans or the like, which will hereinafter be referredto as articles, are moved along by the conveyor C and are subsequentlypositioned in side-by-side relation on a vertically movable platform orelevator 35 which is provided with means for raising the same, as .isclearly shown in said patent, and to thus position the group of articlescarried thereby between the proximate faces of a pair of transverselyspaced grasping devices or units 36 and 31 which are provided withsuitable suction means on the proximate faces thereof for moving theopposed sides of a carton C-l apart from each other after the carton(3-! has been positioned therebetween, in a manner to be laterdescribed, and before the elevator 35 has moved upwardly to position thegroup of articles between the grasping devices 36 and 31', with theresult that the articles are then moved upwardly into the cartonsupported by the grasping devices 36 and 31.

The carton C-l may be of the type shown in .the co-pending applicationof Grover C. Currie et al., Serial No. 788,603, filed November 28, 1947,now U. S. Patent No. 2,556,069, and entitled Bottle Carton.

After the articles are positioned between the opposed sides of thecarton C-l, the grasping devices 36 and 31 move inwardly to urge theopposed sides of the carton inwardly against the articles disposedtherebetween and to thus clampingly support the articles and the cartonC-l while a pair of folding members 40 and M are moved inwardly beneaththe articles in the carton by conventional means, not shown, and, in sodoing, these folding members 40' and 4| engage and fold the bottom flapsof the carton C-I beneath the articles disposed between the sides of thecarton C-I.

Now, since at least one of the flaps on the lower portion of the cartonC-l is provided with an adhesive, upon the folding members 40 and 4|moving into position beneath the articles in the carton C-I, the bottomflaps of the carton are caused to adhere to one another.

The grasping devices 36 and 3'! move apart from each other slightlyfollowing the movement of the folding devices or members it and M to aposition beneath the articles in the carton (3-! so as to permit thecarton to be slid off of the folding members 49 and 4| by a plunger 42which is operated by conventional means in timed relation to movement ofthe folding members 4G and 4| to a position beneath the articles in thecarton C! and this plunger moves the filled carton 0-! off of thefolding members Ml and M onto a suitable conveyor or other means fordischarging the filled carton from the machine. This plunger 42 ismounted for horizontal sliding movement in a guide member d3 which issuitably secured, as by screws M (Figure 4) to the transverse framemember 16.

After the filled carton C-l has been slid off of the folding members illand M, the folding members and M move apart from each other to theiroriginal position to complete a cycle in the machine as originallydesigned. It is in association with a machine of the type heretoforedescribed that the present invention is particularly adapted to beassociated.

The hopper, which is broadly designated at 50, may be identical to thehopper shown in said Patent No. 2,603,924 or as shown in the presentdrawings. This hopper comprises a front wall including a pair ofvertically disposed and laterally spaced bars 5! which are suitablysecured, as by screws 52 (Figure 5) to a transverse bar 53. The hopper5% also comprises a rear wall including a pair of vertically disposedand laterally spaced bars 55 which are suitably secured intermediatetheir ends, as by screws 5 to another transverse bar 5?. Opposed ends ofthe transverse bars 53 and 51 are suitably secured, as by respectivebolts 50 and 6! to the upper surfaces of respective portions 62 and 63which are integral parts of laterally spaced brackets designated broadlyat 65 (Figure 3).

It is most clearly shown in Figure 11 that the portion 62 of each of thebrackets 55 is in the shape of a letter T and the portion 63 of each ofthe brackets '65 extend rearwardly from the lower end of the shank ofthe T-shaped portion 82 and then upwardly at an angle and againrearwardly and has a longitudinally extending slot 68 therein which ispenetrated by the corresponding bolt 6! to thus permit the bar 5! andthe corresponding vertically disposed bars 55 to be adjusted forwardlyand rearwardly for varying the displacement between the bars 55 and thebars 5i according to the size of the cartons adapted to be stacked inthe hopper 50. The laterally spaced brackets 55 are suitably secured, asby bolts El (Figure 11) to the upper surface of the transverse framemember !4 heretofore described.

This transverse frame member i4 also supports a bottom plate 153 whichserves as the bottom to the hopper 5d and on which the lowermost of thecartons in the hopper 5B is adapted to rest. Side walls l2 and 12 of thehopper 59 are shown in the form of vertically disposed laterally spacedplates and the medial portions of these side wall plates '52 and '52 aresuitably secured, as by welding (Figures 3 and 11), to the proximateends of substantially L-shaped brackets i3 and 13.

The horizontal legs of the brackets 73 and '53 are slotted, as at M and14 and these slots are penetrated by respective screws 15 and l5 forsecuring the respective brackets 13 and 13' to the upper surfaces of theT-shaped portions 62 of the corresponding brackets 65.

It is thus seen that the side wall plates 12 and i2 may be adjustedrelative to each other and that the bar 51, to which the verticallydisposed bars 55 are secured, may be adjusted forwardly or rearwardly tothus accommodate cartons of various sizes.

The bottom plate 10 is provided with a pair of laterally spaced slots 11and ll" in which corresponding carton ejecting blocks BI] and havefreedom of movement forwardly and rearwardly of the machine. The blocks80 and 80' have respective pusher plates or bars 8! and 8| suitablysecured thereto, as by screws 18. The leading edges of the pusher barsBI and 8 l project upwardly from the corresponding blocks 80 and 8i! andtheir leading edges are also spaced rearwardly of the tapering leadingedges of the corresponding blocks 80 and 80 (Figure 5).

The blocks 80 and 80 are suitably secured, as by welding, to the opposedends of a laterally extending support bar 82 which is suitably secured,as by screws 83 (Figure 3), only one of which is shown, to the uppersurface of a carrier block 84 which is shown as being dovetailed forforward and rearward sliding movement on a dovetailed guide bar 85. Theguide bar 85 is suitably secured, as by screws 86, to the lower surfaceof the transverse frame member 14 heretofore described.

Gne end of a link is pivotally connected, as at St (Figures 5 and 11) toone side of the carrier block 8d. This link 9% extends forwardly and ispivotally connected, as at 92, to one end of crank arm 93 which isfixedly mounted on a transverse shaft 94. The transverse shaft 94extends substantially half the distance between the frame members I Iand I2 and is supported at one end thereof in the frame member H and.its medial portion is oscillatably mounted in a bracket 95 dependingfrom and being suitably secured to the lower surface of the transverse 3frame member I4.

The crank arm 33 has a slot 96 therein in which a pin 9'? haslongitudinal sliding movement. The pin 91 is fixedly secured in one endof a longitudinally adjustable connecting rod or link if!!! which ispivotally connected, as at 18!, to an tegral with the bracket 35heretofore described.

As is most clearly shown in Figures 5 and 11, the

sleeve I93 has a plate Hi6 suitably secured there-- to, as by screwslei, only one of which is shown in Figure 5 and these screws Hi7penetrate suitable tab portions integral with the plate I05. This plateI06 has a pair of carton positioning arms H0 suitably secured theretoand normally projecting upwardly therefrom as shown in Figure 5. Thesearms iii) are secured to the plate 296 by any suitable means such asscrews Hi. The bottom plate Til is provided with suitable longitudinallyextending slots I I2 at the front edge thereof (Figure 3) which areloosely penetrated by the arms HQ. The function of these cartonpositioning arms Hi1 will be later described.

Now, referring to Figures 1 and 2, it will be observed that the shaft 95extends outwardly beyond the side frame member 5 l and has a crank arm II3 fixedly mounted thereon to the free end of which.

link :I'M extends downwardly and is .pivotally connected, as at I it,adjacent one end of a lever arm Ill. The lever arm H1 is oscillatablymounted on the side frame member I I, as at I29, and has a cam followerI2I on the end thereof remote from the send adjacent which the link H4is pivctally connected. This cam follower I2I is normally urged intoengagement with the peripheral surface of an irregularly shaped camwheel I22 by a tension spring I23 which is connected at its lower end;to the rear free end of the lever arm H I and which is suitablyconnected at its other end, as at I24, to the side frame member I1 at apoint spaced substantially above the lever arm ll 5.

It is thus that the cam I22, which is fixedly mounted on the driven camshaft 2?, will cause oscillation to be imparted to the shaft 94 inaccordance with the configuration of the cam wheel E22. Thus, as theshaft 34 is caused to move in a counterclockwise direction in Figuresand 11, the crank arm 93 will also move in a like direction ther bymoving the carrier block 84 and the corresponding blocks .8!) and 85" aswell as the pusher plates SI and 5t from right to left in Figures .5 and11. The height of the free front end of the pusher plates BI and BI issuch that they will engage only the lowermost car-ton disposed in thehopper 5t and will thus slide the same along the upper surface of thebottom plate 70, this plate extending substantially beyond the bars 5|which define the front wall of the hopper 59.

It will be observed in Figure 5 that the lower ends of these bars 5i arespaced slightly from the upper surface of the bottom plate 73 to thusprovide space therebetween for passage of the low-- ermost carton in thehopper 55 therebetween. As the carton is slid along the plate l6, itmoves into engagement with and between a pair of upper traction wheels Eand a pair of lower traction wheels I26, only one of the lower tractionwheels being shown in Figure 5.

The lower traction wheels H25 are fixedly mounted on a transverse shaftI21 which is rotatably mounted in the side frame members II and I 2andwhich is driven by conventional means substantially as shown in saidPatent No. 2,603,924. Therefore, a detailed illustration and descriptionof the manner in which the shaft I2? is driven is deemed unnecessary.

The upper traction wheels I25 are fixedly mounted on a transverse shaftI35 which is rotatably mounted in bearing blocks ISI (Figure 10)disposed inwardly of and adjacent the opposed side frame members I; andI2. Each of the bearing blocks l3I is oscillatably mounted intermediateits front and rear ends, as at I32, in an upwardly extending portion 533of a bracket I34.

The upper traction wheels I 25 may be driven in any desired manner, suchas by frictional contact with the lower traction wheels 25 or by meansof the carton passing between the upper and lower traction wheels. Theupper traction wheels 125 are normally urged downwardly in Figures 5 and10 by a compression sprin I31 associated with each of the brackets I33,and it will be observed in Figure 10 that the upper end of thecompression spring I31 bears against the medial portion of thecorresponding bearing block I3! and the lower end thereof bears againstthe bracket I35, the brackets I3 l being provided with suitable cavitiesIi'ia for reception of the lower 8 ends of the corresponding compressionsprings I31.

The bearing blocks I3I as well as the brackets I35 extend rearwardlybeyond the compression springs I3? and the brackets I34 are threadablypenetrated by respective adjustment screws I38, the upper ends of whichbear against the lower surfaces of the bearing blocks I3I. Theseadjustment screws I38 are held in proper adjusted position by lock nutsI39.

It is thus seen that the compression spring I 3'! associated with eachof the bearing blocks I3I normally urges the shaft I35 downwardly andthe adjustment screws 38 prevent the rolls I25 and I26 from being movedapart from each other beyond a predetermined point.

It will be observed in Figure 5 that the upper surfaces or" the bottomtraction rolls I26 are disposed at a slightly higher elevation than theupper surface of the bottom plate 10 of the hopper 55 and it is evidentthat the plate W is provided with suitable openings through which thetraction rolls I25 project. If so desired, there may be a suitable meansprovided for applying an adhesive material to one or more of the flapsof the open ended cartons adapted to be used with this machine. However,since this adhesive applying means is not a necessary part of thepresent invention, a detailed illustration and description thereof isdeemed unnecessary. It might be stated, however, that the adhesiveapplying means may be identical to that shown in said patent.

The length of stroke of the pusher plates or bars 8! and SI (Figures 3and 5) is such that the lowermost carton disposed in the hopper 50 willbe moved forwardly to be engaged by the upper and lower sets of tractionwheels or rollers E25 and IE5. The pusher plates SI and BI will thenreturn to the position shown in Figures 3 and 5 while the tractionwheels I25 and I26 will cause the corresponding carton to be movedforwardly beyond the front edge of the bottom plate it of the hopper 50and onto a carton positioning plate which normally rests in a horizontalposition substantially as shown in Figure 3.

The carton positioning plate I35 is provided with a notch I35 at itsfront edge and the front edge of the plate I35 is rcenforced by a pairof stop blocks or bars I350, which are suitably secured to the uppersurface of the plate I35. The plate I35 is provided with transverselyextending adjustment slots I45 which are penetrated by bolts I ZI forsecuring a side guide member or bar I42 to the upper surface of thecarton positioning plate I35 when the plate is in a horizontal or raisedposition.

In order to insure that the carton which is thrown forwardly by theupper and lower traction wheels I25 and I26 will remain in engagementwith the upper surface of the carton positioning plate I35, there arespaced slightly above the plate I35 a pair of transversely spaced cartonhold-down bars I43 which are turned upwardly at their rear ends toinsure that the carton will pass therebeneath as it is thrown forwardlyby the traction wheels I25 and I25. Each of these bars I43 is also bentupwardly at an angle at the front end thereof and is then bent again ina vertical manner and is suitably secured, as by a screw I45, to therear surface of the transverse frame member I3i One of the bars I43 isdisposed substantially midway of the plate I35 when said plate I35 is inelevated position and the other of the bars I43 is disposed adjacent thefree end of the plate I35 and has an angle bar I46 suitably securedthereto, as by welding, the horizontal flange of which serves to supportthe corresponding edge of the carton as the carton is thrown onto theplate I35 by the traction wheels I25 and I26.

It is thus seen that as the carton is thrown onto the carton positioningplate I35 by the traction wheels I25 and I26, the guide bar I42 servesto insure that the opposite edge of the carton, that is, the edgethereof having the flaps thereon, is positioned tightly against thevertical leg of the angle bar I45. Moreover, the bars I35a prevent thecarton from being moved beyond a predetermined point as it is thrownonto the plate I35 by the traction wheels I25 and I26.

As the carton is positioned on the carton positioning plate I35, theleading edge of this car ton is moved between the proximate surfaces ofthe jaws of a grasping device broadly designated at I56 and which willbe later described in detail.

The plate I35 is suitably secured at one end thereof, as by screws II,to the lower surface of a block I52 which is fixedly mounted on one endof a horizontally disposed stub shaft I53. The shaft I53 is oscillatablymounted in abearing block I55 which is suitably secured, as by screwsI56, to the lower surface of the transverse frame member I3. The stubshaft I53 also has a pinion I51 fixedly mounted thereon (Figures '1, 3and 9), the hub of which is provided with a pair of diametricallyopposed radially extending arms I56, one of which is adapted to engagethe lower surface of a stop screw I6I when the pinion I51 and the shaftI53 are urged in a counter-clock- Wise direction in Figure 1 by means tobe presently described. This will insure that the upper surface of thecarton positioning plate 535 will be positioned in substantial alinementwith the horizontal leg of the angle bar I46 as the carton is thrownonto the plate I35 by the traction wheels I25 and I26 (Figure 5).

The pinion I51 is engaged by a segmental gear I65 integral with a leverarm I66 which lever arm is oscillatably mounted, as at I61, on the sideframe member II. This lever arm I66 extends outwardly beyond the pivotpoint I61 and is pivotally connected, as at I16 to a cult member I'EIwhich is slidably penetrated by a vertically disposed rod I12. The upperend of the rod I12 has a pair of lock nuts I13 threadably mountedthereon and the lower end thereof threadably penetrates the upper end ofa connecting rod I14 (Figures 1 and 2). The rod I12 also has a pair oflock nuts I15 threadably mounted on a medial portion thereof, these looknuts I15 being spaced from the lower surface of the cuff member HI andthere being a suitable compression spring I16 surrounding the rod I12.The upper end of the compression spring I16 bears against the uppersurface of the uppermost of the lock nuts I 15.

The connecting rod I 14 extends downwardly and is secured in the upperend of a yoke mem-' ber I11 which straddles the driven cam shaft 21 andis mounted for sliding movement thereon. The medial portion of the yokemember I11 has a cam follower I86 thereon which is urged downwardlyagainst the upper peripheral surface of a cam wheel I8I fixedly mountedon the cam shaft 21. The cam follower I86 is urged against the cam wheelIBI by a tension spring I82, the upper end of which is suitably secured,as at I83, to the upper end of the connecting rod I14 and 10 the lowerend of which is suitably secured, as at I84, to the side frame memberII.

It is thus seen that the cam wheel I8I will cause the lever arm I56 tooscillate and upon the lever arm I66 being moved in a clockwisedirection in Figure 1, the corresponding arm I56 on the hub of thepinion I51 will engage the lower surface of the adjustment screw NH andthis will prevent further clockwise movement of the lever arm I66.However, the rod I14 will be permitted to continue its upper movementuntil the cam follower I86 has been elevated by the highest point on thecam IM and since the lever arm I55 will remain stationary for a part ofthis upward movement of the rod I16, the compression spring I16 willpermit the rod I12 to move upwardly in the cuff member I1I thusoverriding the lever arm I56. This insures that the upper surface of thecarton positioning plate I35 may be accurately positioned in alinementwith the upper surface of the horizontal leg of the angle bar I55 inFigure 1.

It is evident that, upon the lowermost point on the cam I8I moving intoengagement with the cam follower I86, the lever arm I will be caused tomove in a counter-clockwise direction in Fig ure 1 to a substantiallyvertical position thus moving the plate I35 away from the lower surfaceof the corresponding carton previously positioned thereon since thiscarton will then be supported by the grasping device I56 and the anglebar I45.

Carton edge grasping or clamping device Now, as heretofore stated, asthe carton is thrown forwardly onto the carton positioning plate I35,the front edge of the carton is positioned between the opened jaws ofthe carton edge grasping device I56. The lower stationary jaw of thegrasping device, to be presently described, being positioned in theopening I35 provided in the front edge of the carton positioning plateI35. At this time, the carton edge grasping device I56 is disposed insubstantially the position shown in Figure 7.

The carton edge grasping device I56 comprises a stationary jaw I96 whichis suitably secured to the upper surface of a rearwardly extendingsubstantially flat portion Hit of a cast bracket I92. It will be notedthat the stationary jaw I65 is positioned in substantially the samehorizontal plane as the carton positioning plate I35 when the cartonedge grasping device I56 is in a raised position and this jaw I56 isthen positioned in the notch I36 and extends in a horizontal plane.

The bracket I52 also has a downwardly extending flange portion or carI62a integral therewith and an enlarged front end portion I63 integraltherewith. This enlarged front end portion I93 is fixedly mounted on therear end of a stub shaft 1% to which the bracket 592 is suitablysecured, as by a dowel pin E65. This stub shaft :95 is oscillatablymounted in a vertically movable grasping device carrier block broadlydesignated at I95 and which is mounted for vertical sliding movement ona vertically disposed dovetailed guide bar I61 (Figures 5 and 8).

It will be noted in Figure 8 that the grasping device carrier block I95is provided with a gib 266 which engages the front surface of thedovetailed guide bar I61 and, in this instance, the gib 266 has anupwardly extending portion 26I integral therewith (Figures 2, 6 and 7)from which a spring anchor pin 262 extends. This spring anchor pin 262has the upper end of a tension spring 263 connected thereto. The tensionspring 263 extends 11 downwardly and is connected to another springanchor pin 264 which penetrates and is fixedly mounted in an arm 205 andon the outer end of which a follower roller 286 is rotatably mounted.

The arm 205 has an eccentrically located boss portion 291 integraltherewith which is fixedly mounted on the outer or front end of the stubshaft I94, heretofore described, and which is secured thereon by anysuitable means such as a set screw 2 III. The proximate ends of the bossportion Zill and the enlarged portion I93 of the respective arm 265 andthe bracket I92 slidably and rotatably engage the front and rearsurfaces of the grasping device carrier block I95 thus preventingendwise movement of the shaft i534 therein.

Referring again to the stationary jaw bracket 92, it will be observed inFigures. '7 and 8. that the boss portion I93 thereof is straddled byforwardly extending portions 2I2 of an upper or movable jaw supportbracket broadly designated at 2 I3. These portions 2I2 are oscillatablymounted on a hinge pin or rod 2 I 4- which is fixedly mounted in theenlarged or boss portion. I83 of the bracket I92. The movable jawsupport bracket 2i 3 extends rearwardly and has an upper or movable jawwhich is shown in the form of a bar 2I5, suitably securedthereto, as byset screws 2 I 6, and corresponding lock nuts 2 I I.

It will be observed. in Figure '7 that the lower ends of the set screws.2 I 6 extend slightly beyond the corresponding surface of the movablejaw 2I5 so the lower ends of these screws 2E6 preferably engage theupper surface. of the lower jaw Isl rather than the lower surface of thejaw 2I5 engaging the jaw I90 whenthe jaws are in closed position. Thus,when the. jaws are in closed position and there is a carton disposedtherebetween, the ends of the screws 2I6 will engage the correspondingportion of the carton at spaced points thus insuring. the carton will betightly clamped by the grasping device Ifl..

In order to insure that the carton is properly introduced to the jaws2I5 and let, of the grasping, device the lower jaw I99 extendsrearwardly slightly beyond the vertical. plane of the upper jaw 215 whenthe jaws I99 and 225 are in the horizontal position shown in Figure '7.Moreover, the leading upper edge of the lower jaw I9!) is beveled,,asat. 220, to further insure that the leading edge of the cartondirectedthereto will ride up this beveled surface 221! and will thus bepositioned properly betweenthe upper and lower jaws 2 I 5 and I 30,respectively.

The upper or movable jaw 2 I 5 is normally urged downwardly or towardthe stationary jaw I90 by a tension spring 22!, the upper end of whichis connected to a spring anchor 222 extending from an upwardlyprojecting portion 223 integral with the movable jaw support 2 I3.. Themovable jaw support 2 I 3 is provided with an opening 224 therethroughand the jaw I93 as well as the support bracket I92 therefor are alsoprovided with coinciding openings, 225. therethrough. The tension spring22I extends downwardly from the spring anchor 222 in Figure '7 andthrough the openings 224- and 225 and the lower end thereof is.connected'to a suitable spring anchor 22E projecting from the,downwardly extending flange portion I 92aof the stationary jaw supportbracket I92.

The flange portion I92a.of the bracket I92 has a pin 222 projectingtherefrom on which the lower end of a toggle link 238 is pivotallymounted. Thistoggle link fill-extends upwardly or towards the movablejaw support bracket 253 and ispiw otally connected as at 23I to theproximate end of a second toggle link 232. The end'of the toggle link232 remote from thel ink 230 is pivotally connected, as at 233, to theupper or movable jaw support bracket 2I3. It will be observed in Fig.-ure 8 that the pivotal connection between the toggle links 236 and 232has a. roller 234 rotatably mounted thereon which is adapted to beengaged, by means to be presently described, for moving the proximateends of the toggle links 238. and 232 in one direction or the otherbeyond. deadcenter.

It will be observed in Figure '7 that the roller 23.4 is shownpositioned beyond dead-center relative to the free ends of thestationary and movable jaws 93 and 2I3 and the tension spring 22I tendsto urge the proximate ends of the tog le links 23s and 23.2 forwardly towhere at least one of the toggle links will engage astop pin 235projecting from the. bracket I92 This causes. the jaws 598- and 2I5 toremain in a substantially opened position,v that is, to remain spacedapart from each other so as to. permit the correspondingedge of acartonto be positioned therebetween in the manner heretofore described.

It is evident that, upon the proximate ends of the toggle links 230 and232 being. moved from left to. right. in Figure 7 beyond dead-center,the movable jaw 2I5. will. be caused to. move to. closed position byvirtue of the. tension spring 22I.

Now, as the. carton C-I is positioned on the carton positioning plateI35.-in themanner heretofore described, the leading edge of. the cartonis positioned. between the movable andstationary jaws 2I5; and I90,respectively, whereupon the roller 234 is engaged by thelower portion.of a first jaw actuating. arm 240 which is. fixedly mounted on one endof atransverse shaft 24in. This shaft MI is rotated. a partialrevolution in a counterclockwise direction. in Figure '7; by means to bepresently described, and causes the first jaw actuating. arm. 240 tomove in. a like manner. Thus, the. arm 240 engages the. roller 234 andmovesthe proximate endsv of the. toggle links 230' and 232 rearwardlybeyond dead-center whereupon the upper or movable jaw 2I-5 will move-toclosed position by the spring. MI in order to clamp. the correspondingedge of the carton. previously positioned between the jaws I and 2'I5.

The stub. shaft MI is oscillatably mounted in a bearing block' orbracket 243 which is secured to the lower surface of' the transverseframe member l3, by any suitable means such as bolts 244. This bearingblock or bracket 243 also extends. forwardly and the upper end of thevertically disposed dovetailed guide member I97 is suitably secured tothe front end of the bracket 243 as. by a screw 245 (Figure 3-).

Referring to Figure 9,.itwill. beobserved that the end of the stubshaft. 24I. remote. from the.

end on which the arm 240 is fixedly mounted.

The. bearing blocks 253' The shaft 252 extends outwardly and also hasanother eccentric arm 255 fixedly mounted thereon to the free end ofwhich the upper end of a longitudinally adjustable link or connectingrod 256 is pivotally connected, as at 25'! (Figure 9). It will beobserved in Figure that the lower end of the connecting rod or link 25%is pivotally connected, as at 252, to the free end of one arm of a bellcrank 253 which is oscillatably mounted on a stub shaft 294 projectingfrom and being suitably secured to the side frame member II. The arm ofthe bell crank 263 remote from the arm to which the connecting rod 251is pivotally connected has a cam follower 265 projecting laterallytherefrom which engages the periphery of a cam wheel broadly designatedat 265 which is provided with diametrically opposed raised portions 251integral therewith. This cam wheel 295 is fixedly mounted on the camshaft 2! heretofore described.

The end of the shaft 252 remote from the end on which the eccentric arm295 is fixedly mounted has a substantially inverted L-shaped second jawactuating member 219 (Figures d, 5, 6 and 9) fixedly mounted thereonwhich extends upwardly therefrom and the upper end of which is adaptedto be disposed in the path of the roll er 234 at the juncture of thetoggle links 239 and 232 (Figure '7) when the grasping unit is moved toa lowered position which is substantially lower than the position shownin Figure The manner in which the carton edge grasping device I59 israised and lowered will be presently described.

As heretofore described, the grasping device carrier block I95 ismounted for vertical sliding movement on the vertically disposeddovetailed guide member I91, the upper end of the dovetailed guidemember I91 being supported by the bracket 243. The lower end of thisdovetailed guide bracket is supported by a bracket 215 which is shown inthe form of a vertically disposed angle bar and which is suitablysecured to the front face of the transverse frame member I6 by anysuitable means such as screws 275 (Figure 1).

The angle bar 215 extends substantially above the transverse framemember III and is penetrated by a screw 21'! which slidably penetrates aspacing member or sleeve 218 and is threadably embedded in the lowerportion of the vertically disposed dovetailed guide member I97 (Figure1). This dovetailed guide member I9! is also provided with a projection28I at the lower end thereof (Figures 4 and 5) which is threadablypenetrated by a stop screw 282 held in adjusted position by a suitablelock nut 293. This stop screw 282 is provided so as to be engaged by thelower surface of the grasping device carrier block I96 when this carrierblock I95 has been moved to its lowermost position by means to bepresently described.

It will be observed in Figures 5 and 7 that the lower portion of thegrasping device carrier bracket I95 is provided with a slot 285, theside walls of which are disposed astride the projection 23I when thebracket I96 is disposed in its lowermost position. Referring to Figure1, it is evident that the tension spring 293 (Figure 7) normally urgesthe shaft I94 in a clockwise direction. However, when the graspingdevice carrier block I96 is in its fully raised position, the followerwheel or roller 296 engages the lower surface of a laterally projectingcam portion 28'! (Figures '7, 8 and 9) of a substantially L-shapedbracket 290 which extends rearwardly and is suitably secured, as bywelding, to a bar 29! which is adjustably secured, as by screws 292, tothe outer surface of the dovetailed guide member I91.

The bar 29I is provided with elongated slots 293 (Figure 9) which areslidably penetrated by the screws 292 thus facilitating adjustment ofthe bar 29! and the corresponding L-shaped bracket 292 relative to thedovetailed guide bar I91.

It is evident that this means of adjusting the L-shaped bracket 299 isnecessary to insure that the jaws I99 and 2l5 of the carton edgegrasping device may be disposed in a horizontal plane or in parallelrelation to the carton positioning plate I35 when the grasping devicecarrier block I96 is in the elevated position shown in Figure 7.

Since the roller 299 (Figure '7) engages the lower surface of thelaterally projecting cam portion 287 of the L-shaped bracket 299 as theblock I98 is moved upwardly to fully raised position, this will causethe shaft I94 along with the jaws I99 and 2I5 of the carton edgegrasping device to rotate substantially a quarter revolution in acounter-clockwise direction in Figure 1 to thus cause the lower orstationary jaw I99 to be disposed at substantially the same level asthat of the upper surface of the carton positioning plate I35.

Now, as the grasping device carrier block I96 is subsequently moveddownwardly, it is evident the tensien spring 293 will cause the arm 295along with the grasping device I59, including the bracket I92, to rotatein a clockwise direction in Figure 1. This rotation of the arm 265 islimited to substantially a quarter revolution because the free end ofthe arm 2&5 engages an adjustment screw 295 (Figures 5 and 7) whichthreadably penetrates an outwardly projecting arm 296 integral with thegrasping device carrier block I96. This adjustment screw 295 is lockedin adjusted position by a lock nut 29?.

It is thus seen that, immediately upon the grasping device carrier blockI93 moving downwardly, the corresponding grasping device I59 along withthe carton carried thereby will be rotated from a horizontal to avertical position. Thus, the carton C-I, which is usually made from aflexible material, such as cardboard, when rotated about the axis of thebracket I 32, will cause the lower or right-hand end of the carton to bebiased slightly so as to move away from above the horizontal leg of theangle bar Hit in Figure l and to thus permit the carton to be moved froma horizontal to a vertical position.

As the grasping device carrier block I96 continues to move downwardly,the movable jaw sup-,

port member 253 is disposed in a vertical posi tion as shown in Figure 5and, therefore, the roller 234 at the juncture of the toggle links 239and 232 will be disposed below the corresponding grasping device and,upon the roller 234 moving into the horizontal plane of the second jawactuating arm 216, one or the other of the raised portions 29'! on thecam wheel 269 (Figure 5) engages the cam follower 265 causing the bellcrank 263 to move a partial revolution in a counterclockwise direction.This will cause the connecting rod 256 to move downwardly and, in sodoing, will cause the shaft 252 to move in a, clockwise direction inFigure 9 or a counter-clockwise direction in Figure 5. This moves theupper end of the secondjaw actuating arm 219 forwardly l5 whereupon thisarm 2 70 engages the roller 234 and causes the toggle links 23% and 232to move forwardly or to substantially the position shown in Figure '7.

This will cause the movable jaw 2I5 to move away from the stationary jawI30 to thus release the carton from the grasping device I50. The meansfor moving opposed sides of the: carton apart. from each other, whichmeans is represented by the grasping devices 36 and 31 in Fig.- ures 5and 4 will then move inwardly to engage the outer: surfaces of the flapsof the carton to thus move the flaps of the carton apart from each otherin the. manner described in said Patent No. 2,603,924. The carton edgegrasping device I53 will then immediately be. elevated again to theposition substantially as shown in Figures. 7 and 9 and, at the sametime, the jaws will be moved to the horizontal position shown in Figures'1' and. 9 because of the roller 28S again moving into engagement withthe laterally extending portion 281 of the L-shaped bracket-290.

It will be noted that both the first and the second jawactuating members243 and 270 are D- erated simultaneously although only one of these armsis effective at one time since the arm which is efiective will dependupon whether the grasping device I55 is in an elevated or loweredposition.

Therefore, it is evident that one or the other of the raised portions261 on the cam wheel 2-66 (Figure moves into engagement with the camfollower 265 immediately before the bracket L52 assumes a fully raised.position and as this same raised portion 231 on the cam wheel 2E6 movesout of engagement with the cam follower 2E5, the arm 24!! will moverearwardly or in a counterclockwise direction in Figure '7 to thus againpermit the tension spring 22I to move the movable jaw 2 I5 to closedposition. The length of arc of the raised portion on the cam wheel 266is such that the carton from the hopper 50 will have had ample time tobe admitted to the jaws I99 and 2I5 of the grasping device 53 beforethe.

in Figures 1, 2, 5 and '7 and is pivotally connected, as at 352, to thelower end of the substantially vertical leg of a substantially L shapedcarrier block positioning arm 333.

This arm 333 is shown as being L-shaped but it is evident that this arm303 may extend outwardly and the link 360 could be relatively longerthan. is shown in the drawings and thus connected to the free end of thearm 333. The. arm 303- extends rearwardly and is fixedly mounted on a,shaft 305 which is rotatably mounted in laterally spaced bearing blocks326 (Figure 3) suitably secured, as by screws 331 (Figure 5), to thetransverse bar 53 to which the bars EI forming the front wall of thehopper 56 are secured.

The shaft 335 extends outwardly beyond the outermost of the bearingblocks 36% and has one end of an arm 3 I ll fixedly mounted thereon.This arm 3 I 0 extends forwardly and has the upper end of alongitudinally adjustable connecting rod or link 3II pivotally connectedthereto, as at 2 (Figure 5). It will be observed in Figure 5 that thelower end of this connecting rod 3 I I- is pivotally connected, as at313, to one arm of a bell crank 3M, the other arm of which has a camfollower 3I 5 projecting therefrom. This cam follower 3 I5 is normallyurged into engagement with a cam wheel 3H5 by a tension spring 3I'I'(Figure 2), the upper end of which is suitably connected to the free endof the arm 3H) and the lower end of which is suitably connected to theside frame member II. The cam wheel 3I6 is fixedly mounted on the drivencam shaft 2! heretofore described.

It is thus seen that. upon the low point of the cam 3H5 moving intoengagement with the cam follower 3i the bell crank 3 I 4 is urged in aclockwise direction, in Figure 5, by the tension. spring 31?. This will,in turn, cause the grasping device carrier block let to move downwardlyuntil it engages the upper surface of the stop screw 282 in Figure 5.Now, the spring 3|! will urge the block I36 into engagement with theupper surface of the stop screw 283 although the low point of the cam3i6 may normally permit the cam follower 315 to move further in aclockwise direction in Figure 5.

This will insure that the carton C-I is accurately positioned so that,when the side flaps of the carton are moved apart from each other by thegrasping devices 36 and 37, this carton will be properly positioned forreception of the articles admitted thereto by the elevating meansheretofore described. It is evident that upon the higher portion of thecam wheel 3 I 5 moving into engagement with the cam follower 3I3, thefree end of the arm 3H] will be moved upwardly in Figure 5, in theopposite direction from that in which it is biased by the tension spring31 "I, to thus move the grasping device carrier block I96 from loweredto raised position.

It is evident that vertical movement of the grasping device carrierblock I96 and rotation of the carton positioning plate I35 is such thatthe free end of the carton positioning plate I35 will move downwardly toa vertical position as the grasping device carrier block I96 is moveddownwardly to substantially the position shown in Figure 1 thus insuringthat the plate I35 will clear the carton C-I as the carton is rotatedabout the axis of the shaft I94.

It is thus seen that we have provided an improved means for successivelypositively feeding the empty cartons from the hopper to a positionbetween the grasping devices 36 and 37 and wherein the cartons aremoved, one at a time, from the hopper, with the cartons positioned in ahorizontal plane, to a position above the means for moving the opposedsides of the carton apart from each other and then the particular cartonpositioned above the means for moving both sides thereof apart from eachother is rotated about an axis midway of the carton and then movedforceably downward to an accurately predetermined position whereupon themeans for moving the carton downwardly releases the carton and returnsto its original position for reception of another carton as the opposedsides of the previous carton are moved apart from each other forreception of the articles.

In the drawings and specification, there has been set forth a preferredembodiment of the invention and although specific terms are employed,they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not forpurposes of limitation, the scope of the invention being defined in theclaims.

We claim:

1. An improvement in a machine for positioning articles, such as bottlesand the like, in cartons, said machine having means for moving opposedsides of a normally flat carton apart from each other and also having ahopper disposed above and to one side of the means for moving opposedsides of the carton apart from each other, said improvement comprisingmeans for positioning a single carton at a time above the means formoving opposed sides of the carton apart from each other, means forgripping the edge of the carton and rotating the carton so positionedabout an axis transverse of the carton and intermediate the upper andlower ends of said carton to thus rotate the carton from a horizontal toa vertical position, and mechanically operable means for moving thecarton downwardly a predetermined distance for positioning said cartonbetween the means for moving opposed sides of the carton apart from eachother.

2. An improvement in a machine for placing articles in cartons, saidcarton being 01' a type having side flaps normally positioned injuxtap-osed relation to each other, said machine having a hopper inwhich the cartons are adapted to be stacked in a horizontal position andsaid ma chine also having a means spaced below and to one side of thevertical plane of said hopper for moving the flaps on opposed sides of acarton po-- sitioned therebetween apart from each other, saidimprovement comprising positive means for transferring the cartons fromthe hopper, one at a time, to a position between the means for movingopposed side flaps of the carton apart from each other comprising acarton positioning plate normally disposed in a horizontal positionadjacent the hopper and spaced above the means for moving opposed sideflaps of the carton apart from each. other, means operable automaticallyfor moving the lowermost carton in the hopper onto said cartonpositioning plate, a vertically movable and horizontally rotatablecarton edge grasping means disposed adjacent the edge of said carton.positioning plate remote from the edge adjacent which the hopper isdisposed, means on the grasping device for grasping the correspondingedge of the carton as it is admitted to the carton positioning plate,means operable auto matically upon the carton being positioned on saidcarton positioning plate for actuating the grasping means for graspingthe corresponding edge of said carton, means operable automatically uponsaid grasping device being actuated for simultaneously moving the cartonpositioning plate ill from the lower surface of the carton previouslypositioned thereon and for rotating the carton edge grasping devicesubstantially a quarter revolution for moving a corresponding cartonfrom a horizontal to a vertical position, means operable automaticallyas the carton is being moved from a horizontal to a vertical positionfor moving the carton edge grasping device downwardly a predetermineddistance to thereby position the carton carried thereby between themeans for moving the side flaps of the carton apart from each other, andmeans operable automatically upon d carton edge grasping device movingsaid "ed erinined distance for releasing the carton he carton edgegrasping device whereby the for moving the side flaps of the carton fromeach other may perform the latter operation.

In a structure according to claim 2, said carton grasping devicecomprising a sta tionary jaw and a movable jaw cooperatively inter-:n.ected and extending in parallel relation to each other, the uppersurface of at least one of said jaws normally extending in a horizontalplane in substantially the same horizontal plane as the cartonpositioning plate for reception of the corresponding edge of the cartonas it is admitted to the carton positioning plate, means operableautomatically upon said carton being positioned between the movable andstationary jaws of the carton grasping device for moving the movable jawto a closed position and for clamping the corresponding edge of thecarton between the movable and stationary jaws, means operableautomatically upon said jaws being moved to closed position for rotatingthe jaws about a common axis for substantially a quarter revolution andsimultaneously moving the carton positioning plate downwardly and out ofthe vertical plane or" the carton previously positioned thereon to thusmove the carton from a hori zontal to a vertical position, meansoperable automatically for simultaneously moving the stationary andmovable jaws from a raised to a lowered position adjacent the means formoving the opposed side flaps of the carton apart from each other meansoperable automatically upon said jaws being moved to a lo ered positionf or again moving the movable jaw away from the stationary jaw forreleasing the carton therefrom to be operated upon by the means formoving the opposed side flaps of the carton apart from each other.

4. An improvement in a machine for positioning articles in cartons, saidmachine having a station at which. group of articles are adapted to bepositioned in a carton and also having a hopper disposed at a differentlevel than said station and to one side of the vertical plane of saidstation and in which a plurality of cartons are adapted to be stacked insuperposed relation to each other, said machine also having means fordirecting a singl carton at a time horizontally from the hopper to aposition in vertical alinement with station and means for opening thecartons for reception of said articles, said improvement comprisingmeans for gripping and rotating each carton successively positioned inthe vertical plane of the station substantially a quarter revolutionabout a horizontal axis to thus rotate the carton from a horizontal to aertical position and mechanically operable means for moving the cartonfrom the level of the hopper to the level of the station for positioningsaid carton for reception of said group of articles.

5. An improvement in a machine for positioning articles in cartons, saidmachine having a station at which a group of articles are adapted to bepositioned in a carton and also having a hopper disposed at a differentlevel than station and to one side of the vertical plane of said stationand in which a plurality of cartons are adapted to be stacked insuperposed relation to each other, said machine also having means fordirecting a single carton at a time horizontally from the hopper to aposition in vertical alinement with said station and means for openingthe cartons for reception of articles, said improvement comprising meansfor rotating each carton successively positioned in the vertical planeof the station substantially a quarter revolution about a horizontalaxis to thus rotate the carton from a horizontal to a vertical position,mechanically operable means for moving the carton from the level of thehopper to the level of the station for positioning said carton forreception of said group of articles and means operable automaticallyupon said carton being positioned at said station for releasing thecarton from the mechanically operable means for moving the carton andthen returning said mechanically operable means to its original positionat the level of the hopper.

6. In a machine for positioning articles in cartons, said machine havinga station at which a group of articles are adapted to be positioned in acarton and also having a hopper disposed at a different level than saidstation and to one side of the vertical plane of said station and inwhich a plurality of cartons are adapted to be stacked in superposedrelation to each other, said machine also having means for directing asingle carton at a time horizontally from. the hopper to a position invertical alinement with said. station and means for opening the cartonsfor reception of articles; a pivoted carton positioning plate normallydisposed in a horizontal plane adjacent the hopper and onto which eachcarton is successively moved by said means for directing a single cartonat a time to a position in vertical alinement with said station,normally open carton edge clamping means disposed in the path of theleading edge of each carton as it is director onto the cartonpositioning plate, first cam con-- trolled means for closing said cartonedge clamping means to cause the corresponding edge of the carton to beclamped by said carton edge clamping means, second cam controlled meansfor rotating the carton positioning plate from horizontal to a verticalposition to one side of the vertical plane of said station, means operalautomatically upon said carton edge clampi 5 means clamping the cartonfor rotating the carton edge clamping means about a horizontal axis forsubstantially a quarter revolution to thereby move the carton from ahorizontal to a. vertical attitude, a third cam controlled means formoving the carton edge clamping means from the level of the hopper tothe level of said station, and means responsive to said second cam controlled means for releasing the carton from said carton edge clampingmeans upon the carton edge clamping means being moved to the level ofsaid station, whereby, upon said carton clamping means releasing saidcarton therefrom, the carton will then be positioned for reception ofsaid group or articles.

7. An improvement in a machine for positioning articles such as bottles,cans, and the like in cartons, said machine having means for movingopposed side flaps of a normally flat carton apart from each other, andalso having a hopper disposed above and to one side of the means formoving opposed side flaps of a carton apart from each other, saidimprovement comprising means for positioning a single carton at a timeabove the means for moving opposed side flaps of a carton apart fromeach other, mechanical means for rotating the carton so positioned aboutan axis transversely of the carton for substantially a quarterrevolution to thus rotate the carton from a horizontal to a verticalposition and a first cam controlled means for moving the cartondownwardly a predetermined distance for positioning said carton betweenthe means for moving opposed side flaps of the carton apart from eachother.

8. In a structure according to claim '1, mechanical means for rotatingthe carton comprising normally horizontally disposed first and secondrelatively movable jaws, a horizontally disposed shaft on which saidrelatively movable laws are mounted, a vertically movable carrier block,guide means on the machine for supporting the vertically movable carrierblock for sliding movement thereon, said shaft being rotatably mountedin the carrier block, stationary cam means carried by the machine fornormally holding the jaws in said horizontal position, a second camcontrolled means for moving said jaws to a closed position upon thecorresponding edge of a carton being positioned therebetween, meansresponsive to said first cam controlled means for moving the carrierblock from a raised to a lowered position, spring means urging the jawsfrom a horizontal to a vertical position as the carrier block movesdownwardly away from said stationary cam means for rotating the cartoncarried by the aws from a horizontal to a vertical position and saidsecond cam controlled means also being operable automatically upon saidcarton being moved downwardly a predetermined distance to a positionadjacent the means for moving opposed side flaps of the carton apartfrom each other for opening said jaws to release the carton therefrom.

9. In a structure according to claim 8, said first cam controlled meansalso being 0 erable automatically upon said carton being released fromsaid jaws for returning the carrier block to its original position.

1 3. An improvement in a machine for positioning articles such asbottles, cans and the like in cartons, said machine having means formoving opposed side flaps of a normally fiat carton apart from eachother, and also having a hopper disposed above and to one side of themeans for moving opposed side flaps of a carton apart from each other,said improvement comprising means for positioning a single carton at atime above the means for moving opposed side flaps of a carton apartfrom each other, mechanical means for rotating the carton so positionedabout an axis transversely of the cart-on for substantially a quarterrevolution including normally horizontally disposed relatively movablefirst and second jaws, a vertically movable carrier block, guide meanson the machine for supporting the vertically movable carrier block. forsliding movement thereon, a horizontally disposed shaft rotatablymounted in said carrier block and on which the relatively movable jawsare mounted, spring means normally urging said jaws to a verticalposition, means for holding said jaws in a horizontal position whilesaid jaws are at the same level as said hopper, means operableautomatically for moving said jaws to a closed position upon said cartonbeing moved to a position above the means for moving opposed side flapsof a carton apart from each other, means opeablc automatically formoving the carrier block to a lowered position upon said jaws beingmoved to a closed position, and means operable automatically for openingsaid jaws to release the carton therefrom upon said carrier block beinglowered to a predetermined position, whereby said carton is rotated froma horizontal to a vertical position upon being moved from above themeans for moving opposed side flaps apart from each other to the levelof said lastnamed means.

11. An improvement in a machine for positioning articles such asbottles, cans and the like in cartons, said machine having means formoving opposed side flaps of a normally fiat carton apart from eachother, and also having a hopper disposed above and to one side of themeans for moving opposed side flaps of a carton apart from each other,said improvement comprising means for positioning a single carton at atime above the means for moving opposed side flaps of a carton apartfrom each other, mechanical means for rotating the carton so positionedabout an axis transversely of the carton for substantially a quarterrevolution including normally horizontally disposed relatively movablefirst and second jaws, a vertically movable carrier block, guide meanson the machine for supporting the vertically movable carrier block forsliding movement thereon, a horizontally disposed shaft rotatablymounted in said carrier block and on which the relatively movable jawsare mounted, spring means normally urging said jaws to a verticalposition, means for holding said jaws in a horizontal position whilesaid jaws are at the; same level as said hopper, means operableautomatically for moving said jaws to a closed position upon said cartonbeing moved to a position above the means for moving opposed side flapsof a carton apart from each other, means operable automatically formoving the carrier block to a lowered position upon said jaws beingmoved to a closed position, means operable automatically for openingsaid jaws to release the carton therefrom upon said carrier block beinglowered to a predetermined position, whereby said carton is rotated froma horizontal to a vertical position upon being moved from above themeans for moving opposed side flaps apart from each other to the levelof said last-named means, a carton positioning plate disposed in thesame horizontal plane as the lowermost of the relatively movable firstand second jaws while in a raised position for supporting each carton asit is positioned above the means for moving opposed side fiaps apartfrom each other and means operable automatically for moving said cartonpositioning plate away from beneath the carton previously positionedthereon upon said carton being clamped between the first and secondjaws.

12. An improvement in a machine for position ing articles such asbottles, cans and the like in cartons, said machine having means formoving opposed side flaps of a normally flat carton apart from eachother, and also having a hopper disposed above and to one side of themeans for moving opposed side flaps of a carton apart from each other,said improvement comprising means for positioning a single carton at atime above the means for moving opposed side flaps of a carton apartfrom each other, mechanical means for rotating the carton so positionedabout an axis transversely of the carton for substantially a quarterrevolution including normally horizontally disposed relatively movablefirst and second jaws, a vertically movable carrier block, guide meanson the machine for supporting the vertically movable carrier block forsliding movement thereon, a horizontally disposed shaft rotatablymounted in said carrier block and on which the relatively movable jawsare mounted, spring means normally urging said jaws to a verticalposition, means for holding said jaws in a horizontal position whilesaid jaws are at the same level as said hopper, means operableautomatically for moving said jaws to a closed position upon said cartonbeing moved to a position above the means for moving opposed side flapsof a carton apart from each other, means operable automatically formoving the carrier block to a lowered position upon said jaws beingmoved to a closed position, means operable automatically for openingsaid jaws to release the carton therefrom upon said carrier block beinglowered to a predetermined position, whereby said carton is rotated froma horizontal to a vertical position upon being moved from above themeans for moving opposed side fiaps apart from each other to the levelof said last-named means, a carton positioning plate disposed in thesame horizontal plane as the lowermost of the relatively movable firstand second jaws while in a raised position for supporting each carton asit is positioned above the means for moving opposed side flaps apartfrom each other, and cam controlled means for moving said cartonpositioning plate away from beneath the carton previously positionedthereon upon said carton be ing clamped between the first and secondjaws.

13. In a structure according to claim 12, a horizontally disposed guidemember disposed adjacent one edge of the carton positioning plate andmeans for urging the corresponding edge of the carton against said guidemember upon the carton being directed onto the carton positioning plateto thereby insure that the carton is accu rately positioned between thefirst and second jaws transversely of the axis of the shaft supportingsaid jaws.

14. In a machine for positioning articles, such as bottles and the like,in cartons, said machine having means for moving opposite sides of anormally flat carton apart from each other and means for storing aplurality of superposed cartons remote from said first means; mechanicalfeeding means for moving a single carton at a time from said storagepoint, mechanical means for gripping one edge of said carton andpartially rotating the same, and said last-named means also beingoperable to move said carton between said means for moving the oppositesides of the carton apart for reception of articles.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 1,218,683 Milmoe Mar. 13, 1917 1,717,729 Plass Sept. 10, 19292,598,071 Rose et al. May 27, 1952 2,601,481 Williams June 24, 19522,603,924 Currie et al. July 22, 1952

